Creating a new ‘possible’ for others
Australia’s first Indigenous consul general to the United States has strong ancestral connections to the Wimmera.
First Nations man Benson Saulo will take on the role that aims to strengthen diplomatic relations with one of Australia’s major trade partners and allies.
The 32-year-old, born in Bordertown in South Australia and who grew up in Tamworth, New South Wales, is a descendent of regional Victorian Aboriginal communities, including the Wimmera’s Jadawajali people.
He also has family ties to Victorian Wemba Wemba and Gunditjmara peoples, while his father was from the New Island province of Papua New Guinea.
Mr Saulo said he hoped his appointment would set a precedent for all Aboriginal people.
“This is a huge step forward – the way I like thinking about it is that it’s creating a new ‘possible’ for other Indigenous people who are growing up and thinking about what role they want to play in the world,” he said.
“Participating at an international level in a senior diplomatic role – that barrier doesn’t exist now because someone has already done it.
“That doesn’t come lightly. It comes with gratitude and great responsibility to be in this position.”
Mr Saulo said he had strong ties to his ancestral country in western Victoria.
“We still have family right throughout western Victoria,” he said.
“My aunty was living in Horsham for a long time – there is a really strong connection through there.
“Not having grown up on country, there’s that feeling of not having that strong connection, but the reality is, no matter where I walk or live, my heritage and roots tie me back to country.”
Impression
Barengi Gadjin Land Council chairperson Dylan Clarke, also Mr Saulo’s cousin, said his appointment was an ‘inspiring’ example for the Wimmera’s Indigenous community, as well as all Australians.
“It’s really encouraging, not only within our community but right across Victoria,” he said.
“From a BGLC perspective, we’re proud of all Traditional Owners and people from our family groups who go on to achieve great things in their lives.
“Benson is a clear example of all that hard work and dedication he has done across his life.
“It’s definitely inspiring for a lot of young fellas across the nation. It gives an impression for the younger generations that the future can take them where they want and not to narrow things down for themselves.”
Mr Saulo said he had to break past a barrier of being told to ‘settle for less’ from a young age.
“I thought, ‘why can’t I dream? Why can’t I go beyond myself? And what impact can I have on other people?”
He said this was particularly challenging when a person was told they were not good enough or not equal based on the colour of their skin or background and to ‘be small or think small’.
“That was always instilled in me, growing up in a small town in New South Wales,” he said.
“As a young Aboriginal person you never want the next generation to deal with the same barriers that you have, because you hope in your lifetime, you’re able to step over or break down these barriers.”
New possibilities
At 15, Mr Saulo started a traineeship at a bank in Tamworth, sparking his interest in finance.
A world of new possibilities opened in 2011 when he became the United Nation’s Australian Youth Representative.
His role allowed him to travel across the country to engage with thousands of young people.
He later joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, based in New York, where his understanding of international frameworks and policies deepened.
“A pivotal moment in my life was understanding the role of international diplomacy, the importance of governance, implementing international framework and seeing communities being able to drive change locally,” Mr Saulo said.
“That opened my eyes when engaging at a national and international level.”
Mr Saulo has also sat in roles as a financial analyst, taken on senior roles and alongside wife Kate O’brien, founded Mind Garden Projects, an organisation that provides literacy support for Papua New Guinean schools.
Mr Saulo said he hoped he could help further strengthen Australia’s diplomatic relationships with the United States when he took on the consul general role in Houston, Texas, at the end of the year.
“It’s quite a huge honour to be able to represent Australian cultural values, but also Australian business and investment interests internationally,” he said.